St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-20

have promised never to drink again, and
he related a portion of what l have
just told you. wouldn't harm you for
the world, but come, my dear boy, don't
be foolish, just this once for the sake of
the old days, for tomorrow night l
shall be off and you can forget that you
ever saw me or wine glass
''They went out together and a week
later he filled me with brandy and kept
me in his pocket ever after.
cat first there was no change in his ap-
pearance and manner, but gradually his
health broke down and | regretted ever
having been born, wishing ever for
death. My former mistress, how she
plead with him, but vainly, for he was
not his own master and chung help
lessly to me for support. He did not
neglect his business, he was as gentle
manly as of old, for he was a gentleman
to the heart.
THE next time we went to Summit
avenue she was gone, and her autograph
album that he carried here in the same
pocket with me said her parents had
sent her off almost brOken-hearted to
that rambling old cottage in New York.
But we went there of evenings and to
dinner, and her father would drop in at
the office every day with a CHEEKY,
hopeful word for him. Yes, they were
kindness itself.
Three weeks ago tonight we left their
house. The sky was clear and beauti-
full, but it was very cold. He walked
rapidly over here, and throwing himself
down upon the bank, as you have done,
watched the river flowing by for hours.
Then violent coughing fit seized him
and he became inSenSible.
lin the gray of the morning three men
found us, and as they lifted him l fell
from his pocket l tried to speak, to
cry out, but their footsteps died away
and | could utter no sound.
g The neglect of my past life was
nothing to the remOrSe and SufferingS
of those three weeks. He had not
sought to find me, but much as | wished
to see him would rather fall on the
stones below than again wreck the pos
sibility of happiness in store for him
and with a gasping for breath the flask
lay silent and motionless upon the heap
of withered leaves; the story was ended.
"FOr years your unhappy master and |
have been friends; for his sake | will
keep you for he will never seek you.
He is lying very ill, dissipation, grief
and the exposure of that night have re-
suited in an illness from which there
is no recovery" The bottle tried to
speak, but an unfeeling gust of wind
overturned it and shed its contents, like
tears, upon the ground. Placing it in
my pocket l fastened back to the city.
Arrived to-day from trip into the
country, learn that the bottles owner
and my old friend is dead.
Tonight when it was getting dusk
and | was coming to my den, met the
heroine OF this little tale. l had not
seen her for some months. Her face
was even more beautiful, more charm
ing than ever, but her eye has a fara-
way, saddened look that was pitiful to
see. l was close beside her, but she APP
peared to take no notice of me, and-no
it was not fancy-there were tears fall
ing on her fair, soft cheek.
1t is midnight. and | sit alone by the
crate. My fire is out; I'm shiyering
with cold. Yes, l will go to bed. The
pocket flask is on the table beside me,
but its delicate beauty is married, its
days of usefulness are over. Some frag-
ments of glass are lying on the hearth.
have broken the neck of the bottle on
the CRATE of my fireplace.
CORNELIUS.